The Beijing Public Security Bureau Monday received the first batch of
applications for the country's new "green cards" for permanent residence.

Joan Hinton from the United States, Kyoko Nakamura from Japan and another
eight foreigners, who filed their applications Monday, will get the permanent
residence cards within one month, said Liu Jiewei, an official with the bureau's
Entry-Exit Administrative Division.

Joan Hinton, 83, an American
expert at the Beijing Farm Machinery Research Institute, gets her "green
card" Monday at the Entry-Exit Administrative Division of the Beijing
Public Security Bureau.[newsphoto]

All
10 applicants already have certificates of resettlement or permanent residence.

For them, the move is simply a change from the old paper to the new green
cards, said Liu.

Since 1986, his bureau has issued permanent residence certificates to 35
foreigners who have made great contributions to China's revolution and
construction.

Another 277 foreigners have certificates of resettlement issued in Beijing
since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.

"At present, a total of 156 foreigners from 20 countries hold either one of
the two kinds of certificates and they are living and working in Beijing," said
Liu.

He said these people now can come to his division and change their old
certificates to the unified "green card'' for a fee of 300 yuan (US$36).

Liu also mentioned that any foreigners, as long as they meet the requirements
of the new permanent residence scheme, can apply for the "green card." The cost
is 1,500 yuan (US$181).

According to the Regulations on Examination and Approval of Permanent
Residence of Aliens in China, promulgated on August 15, eligibility for
permanent residence mainly applies to four categories of people.

The first group is high-level foreign personnel who hold posts in businesses
which promote China's economic, scientific and technological development or
social progress.

The second category includes foreign citizens who make relatively large
direct investment in China.

The third includes foreigners who have made outstanding contributions or are
of special importance to China, and the fourth includes foreigners who come to
China to be with their families.

Public security authorities will make the decision on each application within
six months.

Joan Hinton, who has been working in China since 1948 and got the certificate
of permanent residence in 1986, said she has witnessed great changes of China's
entry-exit management.

The 83-year-old woman said with permanent residence status in China, she
needs not obtain visas and can enter and leave the country with her valid
passport and the alien permanent residence permit.

Du Taiyuan, head of the entry-exit administrative division, said foreigners
holding the "green cards'' can also change their jobs and living places during
their stay in China without going through any examination and approval.

Du said foreigners who are not eligible or do not intend to get the "green
card'' can apply for 1-5 years of residence permits and multi-entry
visas.